guy following you around. He’s worse than your dog.”
The lovesick smile she beamed warmed him. Despite losing her twin at an early age then finding out her father was a dirty cop who used his daughter’s death for personal gain, she was remarkably well adjusted. Much of that was owed to her ol’ man and the family she’d found in the MC. “I’m sure he’ll be along soon. I just wanted to check on you over here brooding all by yourself.”
More often than not, over the six or so months he’d been staying with her and LJ, she called him brooding or antisocial for hovering on the outskirts of the group. He couldn’t help it. One of the most challenging aspects of re-entering the world had been socializing. After thirteen years of speaking only with corrections officers and angry convicts, he’d lost the skills to shoot the shit with anyone and everyone. Being the center of attention sucked, and loud parties made him want to cower in a corner and scan for attacks. Sitting at the bar with his back to the entire room took a massive amount of effort was a huge step forward. But he kept all that to himself. No one needed to hear him cry about the shitty hand life dealt him. Especially not Holly, who already lived on a mountain of misguided guilt. “I’m not brooding, honey, just waiting to chat with Copper about something.”
“Oh?” Her blue eyes lit up. “Does this mean you’re finally going to patch in with the club?” She practically squealed with glee.
Since the moment he’d arrived in town on a mission to find and thank Holly for her role in his recent freedom, she and her club’s president had been trying to get him to patch in with the Handlers.
He’d been hesitant, to say the least.
It’d been almost fourteen years since he’d last been part of a club. And that sure hadn’t ended well. After multiple betrayals, false imprisonment, then spending over a decade behind bars, trust wasn’t exactly his thing. So while Copper ran a close-knit club, whose members were more a family than anything else, Curly couldn’t stomach the idea of putting his complete confidence in another man to serve as his president. Even a man as solid as Copper. Nothing personal, just a product of his life experiences.
“Not sure,” he said, stretching the truth a bit. “Just got some shit to talk to him about.”
With a roll of her eyes, Holly snorted. “That’s pretty much biker speak for mind your own business.” She mimicked a deep, gravelly voice, making Curly snicker. The women here had their men’s numbers, that was for damn sure.
“That’s not what I meant. I—”
“Hey, sugar.” LJ appeared behind his woman. He wrapped a long, thick arm around her waist, squeezing her lush hip.
As happened every time she was in the presence of her ol’ man, Holly practically glowed.
“Copper’s ready for you, brother,” he said to Curly.
Holly pulled out of her man’s arms as Curly stood. She grabbed his forearms. “Is everything okay?” She’d curled her long hair and wore a hunter-green dress that emphasized her eyes.
She was such a pretty girl, and her sister would have been the same had her life not been uselessly stolen.
“I’m good, honey. Swear it.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before passing her off to her old man. “Take good care of her.”
“Always,” LJ responded with a nod.
Curly slapped the huge man on the shoulder as he walked by.
He’d been staying in their finished basement since he came to town half a year ago. As much as he loved Holly, there were times being around her spurned a pang of irrational guilt in him. Not that he’d ever tell her. Her tender heart would break. He’d had nothing to do with Joy’s death—the murder had been committed by a drifter passing through town who’d then committed suicide in his cell. Although those truths had been covered up by the police, he still felt the weight of responsibility.
Maybe because of his conviction and wearing the false title of murderer for so many years. Or perhaps it stemmed from her father’s hatred of his old MC, but on occasion, being around Holly dredged up feelings of shame and remorse.
Another reason for his desire to speak with Copper.
Curly had an inkling LJ sensed his inner turmoil, but thankfully, he’d kept his thoughts to himself. Last thing he wanted was to make Holly feel worse than she